A striking vintage French release poster for Alfred Hitchcock’s 1948 psychological thriller ‘Rope’, titled here ‘La Corde’ for the French market. Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, this black-and-white photographic poster features dramatic imagery of two men — depicting the murderous protagonists played by John Dall and Farley Granger — with an oversized pair of hands gripping a rope looming above them. Bold red typography announces the title ‘La Corde’ and the cast billing, which includes James Stewart, John Dall, Farley Granger, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Constance Collier, and Joan Chandler. The screenplay credit to Arthur Laurents, based on Patrick Hamilton’s stage play, is also noted. A red tagline cartouche reads ‘Le classique du Suspense!’ — a later re-release promotional addition. The poster bears a French ministerial visa stamp (No. 834), the printer credit ‘Cinemato, 29 r. Morsoulan, Paris’, and an age restriction notice ‘Interdit aux moins de 16 ans’. The graphic design makes effective use of high-contrast photomontage, a hallmark of late-1940s French cinema poster production. An essential piece for Hitchcock collectors and fans of classic Hollywood cinema ephemera.
Visible horizontal and vertical fold lines consistent with storage folding. Small area of foxing or staining visible near the lower-left centre of the poster. Some minor toning to the paper stock (cream/yellowing with age). No visible tears, pinholes, or tape residue apparent from the photographs.
